Hummer case: Business tycoon Mohammad Nisham gets life sentence

Thrissur: Kerala beedi baron Mohammed Nisham, convicted for killing a security guard in a fit of rage by ramming his luxury Hummer, was today sentenced life imprisonment in addition to 24 years in jail by a court here which also slapped a fine of Rs 80.30 lakh on him.

"He is likely to behind bars for 39 years," Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) C P Udayabhanu said. First Additional District and Sessions Judge K P Sudheer had held accused Nisham (40) guilty yesterday.

Pronouncing the quantum of sentence, the judge directed that the deceased guard Chandrabose's wife Jamanthi should be paid Rs 50 lakh from the fine amount.

The court also directed the prosecution to launch proceedings against Nisham's wife Amal, a witness who had turned hostile in the case.

SPP Udayabhanu said Nisham will have to undergo life imprisonment under IPC section 302 (murder) and an additional 24 years under various sections of the IPC, including 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), and 427 (committing mischief).

"He is likely to behind bars for 39 years," he told reporters later. The prosecution had demanded the maximum penalty of death sentence to the accused citing it as a rarest of rare case and a compensation of Rs 5 crore to the deceased guard's family.

Jamanthi and Chandrabose's mother, who were present in court, expressed disappointment with the verdict. "We did not get the justice we expected. Nisham will be happy in jail no matter how many years he is behind bars," Janmanthi cited.

Nisham, who was in an "inebriated" state, had allegedly in a fit of rage assaulted Chandrabose (51) and later rammed his luxury vehicle against him in the early hours of January 29 last year. He was irked over the delay in the guard opening the main gates of a posh residential complex 'Shobha city' here.